Singer Thuy Tien (L) and her husband Cong Vinh are seen in a commune in Tien Giang Province where they donated a desalination machine on March 16 - PHOTO: SINGER THUY TIEN’S FACEBOOK

HCMC – Many celebrities have donated billions of dong to help people in the Mekong Delta cope with the ongoing drought and saltwater intrusion.

Singer Thuy Tien has donated VND50 million to install desalination machines, which can process saline water into fresh water. She is also mobilizing money from other people to get more such machines.

As of March 16, Thuy Tien had received nearly VND9.5 billion, mainly from donations via her bank account.

The singer installed the first desalination machine worth VND800 million in Tan Phuoc Commune, Go Cong Dong District, Tien Giang Province on March 13. Thuy Tien said she is going to provide desalination machines for seven other communes.

“Each machine can turn 3,000-5,000 liters of saltwater into drinking water per hour. If you know any localities in urgent need of fresh water, please let me know. Thank everyone for your love of Mekong Delta people,” Thuy Tien wrote on her Facebook.

Singer Dong Nhi and her husband Ong Cao Thang have transferred VND50 million to Thuy Tien. “While the coronavirus pandemic is raging, natural disasters are wreaking havoc on people in the Mekong Delta […]. I hope the Mekong Delta will soon get out of this situation,” Dong Nhi wrote on her Facebook.

MC Dai Nghia has handed over three desalination machines to the areas most affected by drought and saltwater intrusion in Mo Cay Bac District, Ben Tre Province. He will provide 144 machines and 330 large water tanks to the province.

On March 13, singer Phi Nhung gave 50 water tanks worth VND100 million and 500 liters of fresh water to Hung Nhuong Commune, Giong Trom District, Ben Tre Province.

Comedian Viet Huong has sent a desalination machine worth VND38 million to Binh Dai District, Ben Tre Province. Huong said she will provide desalination equipment to three other localities.

Model Ngoc Trinh has donated VND200 million to buy desalination machines for five Mekong Delta provinces and is calling for other people to follow suit. “Each machine costs VND40 million and is capable of processing 500 liters of saltwater into fresh water an hour,” the model wrote in a Facebook post.